Combusted radio astd phonograph loud speaker



A. WIEHL comaxmab RADIO AND PHONOGRAPH LOUD sPEAxEa April 12, 1927. 1,624,196

Filed Nov. 29, 1926 2 Shp ots-Shaet mum 1"" 1 ENTDR Alfred m'eh! .ZYMW

ATTORNEY April 12 A. WIEHL COMBINED RADIO AND PFIQNOGRAPH LOUD SPEAKER Filed Nov. 29, 1926 Z-Shoota-Sheat 2 BY A ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES ALFRED WIEHL, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

COMBINED RADIO AND PI'IONGGRAPH LOUD SPEAKER.

Application filed November This invention relates to a single or unit apparatus for use either as a radio loud speaker or, as desired, to reproduce and amplify sounds from phonograph records.

6 Among the particular objects are the pro vision of a unit which may be used for the one purpose or the other alternately at will, with no adjustment or change of the soundproducing elements.

In the preferred form my invention comprises a container which may be a thin, circular box practically the size of a phonograph record, on the cover of which is mounted a standard with preferably a base quickly detachable from the cover, so that the base may be set anywhere at will beside the box containing the phonograph record.

Such box requires only a turntable with any suitable drive such as a spring, and the usual. winding and controlling means to actuate the turntable and properly operate a superposed phonograph record. The standard supports, in the preferred form, a

conical aniiplifying diaphragm with a frame articulated to the standard. so that when the ai'nplifier is turned so that the needle engages the record it may move across the face of the record in the normal way for phonograph reproductiom eml for its efficient and effective transmission of the needle vibrations to the focus of the amplifyiug diaphragm. With this is combined radio impressing-means, carried by the standard or a frame thereon, and which can be coupled up with any usual radioa'eceiving apparatus,--so that the radio sounds are impressed upon the diaphragm at the focus for the desired amplification or loud speaking function.

The entire apparatus in its preferred form is a very compact, simple unit article. hen desired the box forms an ample base to sup port the loud speaker elements, frame and standard, but if desired the phonograph turntable and motor, etc, may be otherwise disposed. When combined, the standard supporting the loud speaker elements is freely rotatable on its base so that when the diaphragm is used for phonograph record reproduction it will swing as required for proper engagement with the disc. The frame supporting the amplifying diaphragm carries such a member as will properly sup port a phonograph needle, and in this respect it provides for the functioning of needle with records having the regulation Fierial No. 151,286.

needle-cut, as distinguished from the hilland-dale grooves which are in those records that reproduce by means of a sapphire or a blunt contact. lVhile the so-called sapphire with hill-and-dale grooves may directly rest in the grooves with the sapphire attached to a diaphragm,such arrangement would not function in the case of a needle with the regulation needle-cut of grooves necessary for a needle reproduction. If it become necessary to modify the construction in order to properly support the needle permitting the lateral vibration and still to transmit the sound to the fixed apex of an amplifying diaphragm,--and the arrangement in detail described and illustrated herein provides for most perfect functioning of a needle reproducing record in conjunction with a loud speaker, as demonstrated in many tests on samples that have been made.

A particular embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus closed as a general unit installation.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus in which the phonograph loud speaker is articulated to a position for contact with a phonograph disc actuated by an element of the combined unit.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the phonograph side of the loud speaker on its unit standard.

Fig. f is a top view of the unit apparatus, in fragmentary section.

In Fig. 1 a base a has a standard I.) supported by bulLbearmgs .0, with a rigidly connected frame (Z carrying the circularframe 6 of a cone amplifier 7 which has aradio-impressing means 9 actuated upon the focus g.

Supported upon the same standard 6 is a frame It which carries an articulated bracket such as a hinge supporting a frame is which holds a second conical loud speaker element Z. This frame has attached at its rigid rim or frame is an arm m extending close to the focus of the loud speaker diaphragm Z. The diaphragm at its focus has a coupling 42 with a thumb screw it to form a rigid contact with the transmitting memher 0 which is carried by the bracket 0 and which terminates in the socket 0 adapted to support a needle 79 with a thumb screw 19. Thus this needle is rigidly supported in an arm which is articulated in the bracket m till ill

mil-5 while the arm 0 being a rightangle turn from its support into the contact with the diaphragm focus 7L, provides for a lateral vibratory mo-tion transmission from the vibratory or lateral deflection of the needle p as it moves throughthe needle-cuts of the grooves in a phonograph record. Thus the support of the needle permits the lateral vibrations necessary to oermit the articulate sounds impressed by the needle-cut grooves of a'record,and vibrate or impress those rounds upon the focus of a cone loud speaker. The frame is and loud speaker cone-Z being supported at the hinge j, and having the arm m of very light inateria-l, provide a weight, which generally speaking for normal conditions should be not over three and a half ounces, which affords the right contactof a needle articulation with the needle-cuts on a phonograph record. This is to be understood as a distinct arrangement compared with the heretofore arran gement for a sapphire which would weigh upon the hill-and-dale bottom of a disc groove, where hill-and-dale and sapphire or blunt point reproduction is involved.

It will thus be seen that the entire asing 9 may constitute a box on which the.

base a is detachably supported'on its top whereas the box proper is a fiat thin casing which may be circular or otherwise, that contains a turntable 1" the top of which is slightly above the edge of the casing preferably. This turntable is actuated by any usual motor such as a spring 8, with any usual speed control and switch or braking V apparatus, well known, and whichn'iay be wound up, in the case of a spring by a crank t, shown in dotted lines, connected with a rightangle shaft to the axial connections of the spring. This turntable drive-and-control mechanism is well known, and is of the simplest form for the actuation of a phonograph record, but essentially provides a turntable without any provision for tonearm of phonograph diaphragm or any of the loud speaker features that heretofore have been embodied in connection with a phonograph record,into the cumbersome structure of what heretofore has been known as the phonograph.

loud speaker,and I provide such loud speaker as a portable unit, to be used for either radio, at will or voluntarily for dropping the cone loud speaker in a position to immediately emit phonograph record.

speech. In this Way the small box with a turntable ofunusually small diameter, fits particularly as a base for this structure.

Furthermore, the complete box can be closed with the unit loud speaker seated thereon, and still when the box is opened the turntable surface being above the edge of the base permits the resting of any size of pho nograph record even extending considerably beyond the box, so that the needle 7) will engage it and move, with the swing of the frame 7:, easily oscillating around the base a in view of the ball-bearings 0, so that perfect phonograph reproduction is assured with any size of phonograph record.

It will be understood that the hinge y' may be so arranged as to assure the desired overhang weight on the phonograph record to give best results, or a spring connection may relieve part of the weight, and in any event the base of the entire structure supporting the loud speaker, will be such that it will readily cooperate with the box containing the phonograph turntable apparatus and still permit the use of any size of phonograph record of which there are millions in use.

Thus the apparatus provides for the use of radio, and in case of interruption a momentary shift can be made by lifting oil? the loud speaker from its base and dropping the loud speaker cone, or its equivalent, into a position where it coacts with a very cheap and economical apparatus capable of accommodating any phonograph records, the accumulation of which exists practically in any place where people are wont to use a radio.

In this way this unit apparatus provides for a much felt want for very economic use of radio production interspersed or alternated with radio when emergency or other local conditions make it desirable for a continuation of using or other sound delivery, and when radio interruption would other wise prevent.

Various modifications may be made without diversion from my invention, both as to material, detail of design and otherwise, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A loud speaker for alternate radio or phonograph sound emission, comprising a stand with a bracket supported to freely turn on a vertical axis, a diaphragm mounted in fixed position thereon and having a radio receiving sound translating means operatively secured thereto, a second sound diaphragm mounted on said support and a hinge adapted to permit said second diaphragm to be inclined laterally, a phonograph needle operatively connected with the focus of said diaphragm and having a support rigidly connected with the frame of the diaphragm, whereby the weight of said diaphragm is carried on the frame when the needle is supported to move on and with the surface of a phonograph disc.

2. A unit apparatus adapted to project magnified radio sounds alternately with amplified phonograph record sounds, consisting of a single standard having a fixed radio loud speaker disc with radio receiving sound translating means associated therewith, a second diaphragm articulated on said standard whereby it may rest on and reproduce phonograph disc sounds, or in its alternate position nest with the radio speaker diaphragm and cooperate therewith.

3. A loud speaker unit comprising a container for a phonograph turntable motor and associated control, a revoluble standard mounted on said box, a conical loud speaker diaphragm frame fixedly carried by said standard with a radio receiving sound translating means supported therewith, and a conical diaphragm frame nesting with said first diaphragm to permit the second diaphragm to be positioned with its needlereproducing element in engagement with the phonograph disc on said turntable.

L. A combined unit apparatus having loud speaker diaphragm means supported on a rcvoluble standard, radio receiving sound translating means fixedly supported in the frame of said standard, and articulated means to permit a diaphragm to be at will placed in engagement for phonograph disc reproduction and adapted to freely swing about said standard with the phonograph needle in engagement with the disc.

5. A unit apparatus of the character described, comprising two nesting conical s0und-amplifying diaphragms, one diaphragm fixedly mounted with its frame in substantially a vertical plane, the second diaphragm having its frame parallel and means for locking the same in a nesting position, and a hinge permitting ilateral swinging to a plane substantially horizontal with a phonograph needle support rigidly carried from said frame for engagement with a horizontal phonograph disc.

6. In a combined phonograph and radio loud speaker, an amplifying disc, a marginal frame therefor having articulated means of support permitting hinging and swiveling with part of the weight supported on the needle or stylus, a bracket extending from said frame into the proximity of the focal apex of the diaphragm, and means to carry said phonograph needle or stylus on said bracket in close proximity and with a soundimpressing member connecting the dia phragm focus with the needle support.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, this 15th day of November, 1926.

ALFRED WVIEI-IL. 

